July 10, 2013: The reminder of one’s mortality has always been the fundamental force behind the human search for something beyond. Nobody would seek spirituality if they did not know that they would die. When you are young, you tend to think you are immortal, but slowly, as you get older, the body reminds you that you are mortal.

It is believed that Lord Shiva constantly spent time in cremation grounds. Almost every yogi has spent time in cremation grounds. These places remind you of your mortality. When somebody dies, even if you do not know that person, you feel a sense of sadness, for the life lost and for the bereaved family members.

The mortal nature of your existence dawns upon more clearly at the time of death, even if it is of a stranger.

Yogis choose to live in the mountains because it is in those harsh conditions that they become aware of their body’s frailty and its mortality. Living in the mountains constantly remind you of the transitory nature of your existence.

If you realise that your physical body is not permanent, that it is going to be sucked into earth one day, and that that day  could be today, your quest for spirituality intensifies. That is why yogis usually choose the mountains to meditate.

They want to be constantly reminded of their mortality so that their spiritual search doesn’t waver at all. It is very important to be constantly reminded of the mortal nature of your body. The body around which your whole life revolves is just a little bit of earth.

Yogis, therefore, prefer to live their lives close to the earth. How do they achieve this? Digging a hole or sitting in a well would be foolish. Instead, the yogis choose mountains and caves where they feel more connected to earth and are also reminded of the fact that once they die, their bodies will be mixed with that very earth. In fact, your fight for survival is only a struggle against this universal fact.

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, an internationally renowned spiritual leader, is a visionary, humanitarian, author, poet and speaker. He can be contacted at www.ishafoundation.org

Source: Deccan Chronicle, DT. July 10, 2013.